2008 Woodie Awards
It Can Happen Here, Too: Plagiarism
Zev Eleff
Issue date: 10/15/07 Section: Features
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Plagiarism is one of the main areas of academic integrity with which academic institutions around the country are grappling. With an abundance of literature on countless subjects available to students in their college libraries and on the Internet, it is very difficult for instructors to gauge the authenticity of a student's work. Yeshiva College is no different and administrators appeal to the student body to play by the rules and protect the integrity of the Wilf Campus.
During the Spring 2007 semester, 23 of the 28 cases of academic misconduct reported to the Dean's Office were cases of plagiarism. The Dean's Office confirmed that more cases of cheating are brought before a faculty panel than plagiarism cases, mostly because when a student is accused of plagiarism, concrete evidence is often readily available.
"It is clear that it is easier to plagiarize than cheat on an exam and the temptations are often sitting right in front of a student when he is writing. It takes more self-control to not plagiarize than not to cheat," asserted YC Dean David Srolovitz.
The College is also concerned that with graduate and professional programs becoming more selective, students feel compelled to get ahead by any means possible. One solution, according to Dean Srolovitz, is to use the Advising Center to make students aware of all post-graduate options available. "Medical school is not right for everyone," said Dean Srolovitz. "But if a student has his heart set on medical school but is having difficulty, we should make sure that he is aware of other health profession options and that he is prepared for the arduous process of getting in to an appropriate program."
Last semester, six students in a History survey course were caught plagiarizing final papers from essays found on the Internet in one of the largest cases of plagiarism in the College. All of the accused students confessed and received a failing grade on their papers and a one letter grade reduction in the course.
During the Spring 2007 semester, 23 of the 28 cases of academic misconduct reported to the Dean's Office were cases of plagiarism. The Dean's Office confirmed that more cases of cheating are brought before a faculty panel than plagiarism cases, mostly because when a student is accused of plagiarism, concrete evidence is often readily available.
"It is clear that it is easier to plagiarize than cheat on an exam and the temptations are often sitting right in front of a student when he is writing. It takes more self-control to not plagiarize than not to cheat," asserted YC Dean David Srolovitz.
The College is also concerned that with graduate and professional programs becoming more selective, students feel compelled to get ahead by any means possible. One solution, according to Dean Srolovitz, is to use the Advising Center to make students aware of all post-graduate options available. "Medical school is not right for everyone," said Dean Srolovitz. "But if a student has his heart set on medical school but is having difficulty, we should make sure that he is aware of other health profession options and that he is prepared for the arduous process of getting in to an appropriate program."
Last semester, six students in a History survey course were caught plagiarizing final papers from essays found on the Internet in one of the largest cases of plagiarism in the College. All of the accused students confessed and received a failing grade on their papers and a one letter grade reduction in the course.
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